Keeping It Real: Sarah Adams Warns the Next 9/11-Style Threat Is Already Brewing

**Transcripted.ai** (0:01)
We've got a fascinating conversation to unpack today from Keeping It Real. Jillian Michaels sat down with Sarah Adams, a former CIA targeting officer and national security analyst, and the warnings she delivers are pretty unsettling. What's her main argument? That America keeps misunderstanding the threats in front of it. From 9/11 to Iran, from border security to future aviation plots, Adams says we're still too focused on old narratives and not enough on what comes next. Interesting. I noticed she spent considerable time addressing 9/11 conspiracy theories. What's her take? She pushes back hard on the persistent claims. On Building 7, she says it was not a controlled demolition, but a collapse driven by debris and fire, and she rejects claims that the CIA or FBI were operating offices there. Regarding the Pentagon attack, she says the CIA did not confiscate footage, and she points to the speed of the aircraft, the size of the plane, and DNA evidence as proof that American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. So what does she think went wrong with 9/11 intelligence? She says the intelligence community suffered from a 'lack of imagination' before 9/11, unable to picture how a small network could carry out such a devastating attack. And here's the concerning part, that same blind spot is still dangerous today.
How so?
Adams argues that al-Qaeda views 9/11 as unfinished business and is planning something far larger. She describes a possible attack 'three times the size of 9/11' with a major aviation component. Her warning is blunt: 'Nobody is coming to save you.' That's chilling. What does she recommend? She urges Americans to think about preparedness, family communication, and situational awareness, adding, "When something feels off, it is off."
The conversation also covered Iran and the broader terror landscape, right? Exactly. Adams says Iran has long supported proxy violence and helped terror operatives move through the region, and she believes sanctions alone are not enough without a clear strategy. She also discusses the Muslim Brotherhood, domestic influence operations, and what she sees as infiltration through political and educational systems. What about the border situation? In her view, the U.S. is losing ground there. She says cartels and terror groups use social media to map routes, share tips, and move people quickly across the country.
Adams says, 'this is no longer a conversation about economic migrants and refugees.' She also raised concerns about Chinese migration, Chinese police stations, biosecurity risks, and foreign influence campaigns that blur the line between ideology and manipulation.
Through it all, Adams returns to one core message: the country is not paying enough attention to the next threat while still arguing about the last one. Her final warning is simple and unsettling. America keeps assuming time will buy safety, but adversaries are already planning ahead.